Last to Know Read online

  “Good, well Kayla said she saw you leave with some guy. She didn’t get a look at his face but she said he had a great ass. I can’t believe you didn’t call and tell me. This is newsworthy information Emma, and as your best friend I should’ve known immediately. I’ve been waiting since eighth grade for you to get that cherry popped.”

  I gaped at her. “Well I’m sorry I can’t be a slut like you.”

  She laughed, completely unaffected by my words, since we both knew it wasn’t true. “So, tell me about him!”

  “He’s just a guy,” I shrugged, rolling out of bed.

  “Ugh, Emma!” She shrieked. “I need more than that!”

  “He’s hot! Does that suffice?” I growled, getting frustrated. “You ditched me, Sadie, so excuse me if I feel like I don’t really owe you an explanation!” I snapped, anger lacing my tone. I didn’t get mad at Sadie often, so my explosion was unusual.

  Her face flashed with hurt and I instantly felt bad for my harsh words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

  She stood up, straightening her clothes. “Yeah, you did. I’ll see you later.” She walked towards my bedroom door, her head bowed sadly.

  When the door closed behind her I stood there staring at it. Maybe it was silly, but a part of me expected her to open the door and laugh it off. Sadie and I had never fought before—or when we did we made up before the other person left. This time felt different, and maybe it was because we were older, or maybe it was because I didn’t really want to share Maddox with her. Right now I wanted to keep him to myself. Things were still so new and we hadn’t even gone on a date yet—and what if after tonight he decided I wasn’t worth his time? I didn’t want to gush to Sadie only to have it blow up in my face. I wasn’t like her, I didn’t have a crush on a new guy every week. The fact that I actually liked Maddox was a big deal, and until I wrapped my head around my own feelings I didn’t want to talk about it with her. I’d have to call her later to explain, but right now I knew I needed to give her a chance to cool down.

  I knew my mom would want to leave soon, so I showered and dried my hair, letting it hang with its natural curl. I dressed in a plain white t-shirt, a pair of high-waisted jean shorts, and a pair of converse. I grabbed the black hat I’d worn yesterday and instantly thought of Maddox as I put it on.

  I found my mom in the kitchen drinking a fresh cup of tea. “Is everything okay?” She asked. “Sadie looked upset when she left.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t really know.”

  “Oh,” she frowned. “Well, if you’d rather go to Sadie’s house and talk to her we can do lunch another day.”

  “No, mom,” I protested. “It’ll be fine. I think we both just need to cool off.”

  She appraised me carefully and finally said, “Alright.” She tossed me the keys to her car. “You drive.”

  While she finished her tea I headed outside and got into her teal colored Nissan Cube. It was a weird looking car, kind of reminded me of a bubble, but at least it was reliable unlike my old Volkswagen Beetle which had been a hand-me-down from my mom. Once I got my license she decided it was time that she upgraded her car—about thirty years too late, might I add. I wasn’t sure how much longer the Beetle was going to last. Luckily it had never let me down when I needed it the most.

  I had finished adjusting the mirrors when my mom walked out the door and slipped into the car. “Where do you want to eat?” She asked.

  “Marigold’s?” I suggested. Marigold’s was a small restaurant on main street that offered the best sandwich’s around, not to mention their sweets, which were all unique flavorings—my personal favorite being lavender cupcakes with lemon icing.

  “That sounds perfect,” she smiled, buckling her seatbelt, “we can check out the thrift store across the street after we’re done.”

  Most girls probably would balk at the thought of spending the afternoon with their mom, but my mom was my rock. She’d always been there for me and I liked spending time with her. We didn’t fight like other kids did with their parents. Sadie’s mom and dad were constantly mad at her for something, although she usually deserved it.

  With traffic it took ten minutes to get to Marigold’s. Luckily there was a free parking space right in front. My mom grabbed a quarter from her purse and put it in the parking meter.

  I watched for traffic and once no one was coming I slipped out of the car and followed her into the restaurant.

  Marigold’s was a small café with only three tables. The walls were painted bright yellow and the tables were mismatched. The counter that housed the sweets and sandwiches was green.

  Marigold’s was in fact, not owned by someone named Marigold. Her name was actually Betty and I had no idea why she named the place Marigold’s, but I guessed she liked the name, or maybe the flower.

  A lone woman sat in the corner eating a cupcake and Betty wasn’t at the counter. My mom reached out, dinging the bell. A moment later we heard a call of, “Just a minute!”

  “Why don’t you grab a table before someone else comes in?” My mom suggested.

  “Sure.”

  I sat down at the table in the corner by the windows so we could look out. Little pots shaped like a watering can sat on the center of the tables with various flowers planted in them.

  While I waited for my mom to order the food I checked my phone, thinking Sadie might have sent a text. Nothing. She really was mad at me. Maybe I was wrong to snap at her, but she was also wrong to leave me alone yesterday without a ride. If I hadn’t met Maddox I would’ve been screwed.

  “Are you sure everything is okay?”

  I startled at the sound of my mom’s voice as she sat our bag of food down and two cupcakes.

  “Yeah, everything is fine,” I assured her, putting my phone away.

  “You look sad.”

  “I just hate having Sadie mad at me,” I mumbled, reaching for the bag and pulling the sandwiches and chips out.

  Betty approached our table then with two water bottles. “You left these on the counter,” she smiled, setting them on the table. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

  “Why is Sadie mad at you?” My mom asked, unwrapping her sandwich.

  “I wouldn’t tell her about Maddox,” I supplied.

  “Oh,” she said.

  “Yeah, oh,” I sighed. “Do you think it was wrong of me not to talk to her about it?” I wiggled nervously in my seat.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought you two told each other everything.”

  “I messed up, didn’t I?” I asked, but didn’t wait for her to give me a reply. “I was so mad at her for ditching me at the fair and I really don’t even know what to think of this whole Maddox thing, so I didn’t know what to say.” I rambled, only realizing too late that I’d let it slip about the fair. My mom might’ve liked Sadie, but she wouldn’t be pleased to know she’d abandoned me.

  “She ditched you at the fair?” My mom’s eyes widened.

  Oops.

  “Yeah…” I said slowly.

  “I cannot believe she left you alone at the fair. Why didn’t you call me, Emmie?” She frowned.

  “You were working, I knew you wouldn’t answer.”

  She shook her head and I wished I hadn’t let that tidbit of information out. “Now I can see why you’re fighting. I love Sadie, I do,” she eyed me, “but sometimes she can be so irresponsible that I just want to shake her.”

  It wasn’t funny, but I started laughing anyway. “I’m pretty sure Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook want to shake her too.” And my poor mom didn’t even know some of the more outlandish stunts Sadie had pulled—like skinny-dipping in the neighbor’s pool with a random guy.

  “Enough Sadie talk,” she waved her hand in dismissal. “We’re going to enjoy today.”

  I finished my sandwich and wadded up my trash, putting it in the bag. “I’m nervous,” I admitted.

  “Aw, honey, I’d be worried about you if you weren’t nervous.”

  I reached for my lavender and lemon cupcake. “I… I’m scared that after tonight he might think I’m weird and never want to see me again.”

  “Emma,” she scoffed, “you’re a wonderful girl, who’s smart, beautiful, kind… the whole package. Any boy would be lucky to have you in his life. Remember that.”

  Sometimes it was all too easy to compare myself to others and feel like I wasn’t good enough. But the fact of the matter was, every person on the planet was different from everyone else and it was stupid for me, or anyone else, to try to compare to another person. We were all different for a reason and we needed to learn to embrace our uniqueness. Too many people acted like ‘unique’ was a disease, when it was the only thing that made you, you.

  “Thanks mom. You’re right.” I needed to stop doubting myself and Maddox’s motives.

  We finished eating and headed across the street, exploring the thrift shop.

  “What do you think of this?” My mom held up a simple red dress with small black buttons running down the front with a black belt.

  “Um…” I was scared that it might be a bit too bold for me. “I don’t really like that.”

  “Okay,” she put it back, “what about this one?”

  She held up a navy dress with short sleeves and different colored flowers all over it.

  I reached over the clothing rack and rubbed my fingers against the material.

  “This is perfect,” I smiled, feeling my excitement build.

  “I like this one the best too,” she agreed.

  I ended up getting a few more dresses and other clothing items before we headed home. It had been too long since I’d spent a day with my mom and I realized now how much I’d missed her company. No matter how old I got I always wanted my mom to be one of the first people I went to for everything. She’d always been there for me and I never wanted to be like those other kids that ‘hated’ their parents. I’d already lost my dad and the last thing I wanted was to lose her too.

  I dumped the bags of new-to-me clothes on the bed and looked at the time.

  Maddox would be showing up in a few hours and I felt completely unprepared. What did I do? What did I say?

  I picked up the phone and called Sadie.

  It rang and rang. Just when I thought she wasn’t going to answer she did. “What?” She sounded sad.

  “I need your help,” was all I said.

  “I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  Sadie might’ve been a lot of things, but I always knew that when I needed her most she’d be there.

  “WHAT DO YOU think?” Sadie turned me around to look in the mirror. She’d done my eyes in a smoky gray color and my lips were a bright red. The red was far more daring than I was used to, but with my blonde hair and the navy dress it worked.

  “It’s perfect, thank you,” I hugged her.

  I’d spent the last few hours picking her brain on all things boys and makeup. I think Sadie had been pleased. At one point she’d even said I was, ‘a real girl now,’ which had made me laugh.

  “You look great and you’ll be fine,” she assured me. “I’m going to head out.”

  “You’re not going to stay and meet him?” I asked.

  “No,” she smiled, “Josh and I are going to the movies. He’s at my house waiting on me.”

  “Oh, right. Of course,” I mumbled. “Thanks for coming over and I’m sorry about earlier.”

  “You don’t need to apologize,” she assured me, grabbing her purse. “You were right, I did ditch you, and I guess I got mad because you made me realize what a shitty friend I am. I mean, I did try to look for you, but not very well. I suck. Why do you even like me?”

  “Because you’re my best friend,” I laughed, sitting on the end of my bed, lacing my converse.

  “I think you have bad taste in friends,” she started towards the door.

  “You would know,” I laughed. Once I had my shoes tied I walked her to the front door, thanking her again.

  “Don’t forget to call me to tell me all about your date,” She waggled her eyebrows.

  “Ew! Sadie! Nothing like that is going to happen!”

  “Whatever,” she laughed, “but seriously, you better call me.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “I will,” I assured her. “Now hurry before you miss your movie!”

  “Later, bitch!”

  “Takes one to know one!” I shot back, laughing.

  When I turned around from closing the door my mom stood behind me, suppressing a laugh. “I can see you two made up.”

  “We did,” I smiled.

  “I’m glad. I don’t like to see you two fight, even if it’s justified. So, what time is Maddox getting here?” She asked, perching on the arm of the couch.

  “Six-thirty.”

  My heart started to race and not because it was almost time for him to arrive.

  “Mom,” my voice shook, “what if he doesn’t show up?”

  “Oh, Emma, don’t be silly.” She dismissed my concern.

  “Sorry,” I frowned, wringing my hands together. “I’m nervous.”

  “It’ll be fine, Emmie. As long as he comes to the door and introduces himself to me,” she warned. “If he stays in his car you’re not going. Introducing himself is a sign of respect and if he can’t do that then he’s not good enough for you,” she rambled.

  “Okay, mom,” I laughed.

  I jumped when my phone chimed with a text message. My heart stopped when I saw Maddox’s name flash on the screen. I was sure he was telling me he couldn’t come now. I forced myself to read the text and breathed a sigh of relief when it simply said he was on his way.

  I hadn’t planned on meeting Maddox, or going on a date, but one night with him and I’d already turned into a giddy schoolgirl. Pretty soon I’d be sitting in my yard picking petals off of flowers chanting, “He loves me. He loves me not.”

  “He’ll be here soon,” I told my mom. I felt like this was my prom night and she was about to whip out her camera and start taking a million pictures.

  “I can’t wait to meet him. He must be a nice boy for you to like him.”

  I stood near the front door, watching for the car. When I saw it coming up the street I jumped in surprise.

  He was here.

  He was actually here.

  Oh my God.

  I’d been so focused on wondering if he’d actually show that I’d forgotten to think about being alone with him in the car and what on earth we’d talk about. All the information Sadie had given me went flying out of my panicking brain.

  “I’ll be right back,” I squeaked, running to my room.

  My mom gave me a peculiar look and started to say something, but then the doorbell rang and she let it go.

  I closed my bedroom door behind me and paced the length of the small room.

  I couldn’t get enough air into my oxygen starved lungs. I was going to be alone with Maddox for hours and I had no idea what to do, or say, or even where we were going.

  “What have I gotten myself into?” I mumbled to myself.

  “Emma!” My mom called and I knew my time was up. “Maddox is here!”

  “You can do this, Emma. Take a deep breath and calm down.”

  I grabbed my hat and a gray cardigan, and put them both on.

  I walked as slow as humanly possible to the front room. Maddox sat on one couch and my mom sat across from him. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about. My ears seemed to have stopped working and I felt dizzy. Was I going to pass out? Oh God, that would be beyond embarrassing.

  “Emma,” Maddox grinned, standing up. “I got these for you.” He held out a bouquet of sunflowers. “I wasn’t sure what you would like but these reminded me of you.”

  “Thanks,” I took them from him. At least I could speak and didn’t stutter. “I’ll put them in a vase,” I pointed over my shoulder towards the kitchen area.

  “I’ll come with you,” Maddox stepped forward. He was dressed simply, much like he was yesterday only this time his shirt was black instead of white.

  I opened the cabinet where we kept the vases and stood on my tiptoes trying to reach the nearest one.

  “Here I’ve got it,” Maddox stepped up behind me, his tall lean body pressing up against mine. While one of his hand reached for a vase the other was pressed against the counter near my waist. I held my breath, scared to move. My body was reacting in ways I didn’t even know it could.

  Maddox seemed to notice so once he had the vase in his hand he cleared his throat and took two steps back. I instantly missed the heat of his body against mine.

  “Thank you,” I whispered, filling the vase with water and emptying the packet of powered stuff into it.

  “You’re welcome,” he grinned.

  Once the flowers were fixed in the vase I pointed towards the back of the one-story house. “I’m going to go put these in my room. Wait here.”

  I hoped he didn’t think I was rude by not inviting him to my room, but it would be my luck that I’d left a bra sitting on the floor and then I’d end up mortified. My cheeks were already coloring at the thought alone.

  He chuckled. “Okay. I’ll be here. Talking to your mom.” I started to walk away and then he called, “I think she mentioned some naked baby pictures.”

  I dropped the vase and it shattered everywhere. At the feel of the cold water on my feet I screamed and jumped back.

  Maddox started laughing uncontrollably. “Oh my God, I hate you!” I shrieked, chucking off my now drenched shoes. I slipped into a pair of flip-flops that sat in the hallway.

  My mom poked her head around the corner. “What happened? Oh,” she drew out the word when she saw what happened. “You two get out of here. I’ll clean this up.” She shooed us out the door.

  “It was nice meeting you, Dawn,” Maddox called over his shoulder. “I’ll have her back by ten.”

  He placed is hand on my waist as we started towards the car. “You’re on a first name basis with my mom?”

  “Why does that surprise you? I’m quite charming and she clearly likes me. But what’s not to like? I’m wonderful.”